Stock-watering fountain.



No. 794,326. PATENTED JULY l1, v1905. J. H. THORNBURG.

STOCK WATBRING' FUNTAIN.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1.1905.

Patented July 11, 1905.

PATENT EETCE.

JOHN H. THORNBURG, OF KNIGHTSTOVVN, INDIANA.

STOCK-WATERING FOUNTAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,326, dated July 11, 1905. Application tied February 1, 1905. serai No. 24am.

To /LZZ 11171/0771/ 7175 7110.3/ concern:

Be it known that I, Jer-IN H. THonNBURo, a citizen of the United States, residing at Knightstown, in the county otl Henry and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Stock-latering Fountain, ot' which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to stock-watering devices ot' the class wherein the water is caused to fiow automatically into a trough or receptacle as Vlast as is consumed and automatically cut oli' when a certainpredetermined quantity has been discharged from the reservoir, and has for its object to provide a device ot' this class o1 improved construction and increased el'ticiency and wherein changes in temperature will not affect the action ol the same.

With these and other objects in View, which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, is illustrated the preferred form of embodimentot' the invention capable ot' carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, as various changes in the shape, proportions, and general assemblage otthe parts may be resorted to without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrilicing any of its advantages.

In the drawing thus employed the ligure is a sectional elevation of the improved device.

The improved device comprises a tank or reservoir 10, otl any approved size or vt'orm or the interior compartments by a contracted discharge-aperture 16, provided with a detachableclosing-cap, (indicated by dotted lines at 17.) The two interior compartments are also connected by a pipe 18, so that the water will freely flow between them, and the cover 11 is provided with a central aperture 19, Surrounded by a strengthening-plate 2O upon the under side of the top 11 and with an arched vframe 23 riveted to the top and through the strengthening-plate. A closure 21, having a rubber or similar packing 24, is held over the aperture 19 by a screw-rod 22 to produce an air-tight joint, while at the same time the closure maybe readily detached when the tank is to be lilled. The upper line ot' the discharge-aperture 16 is disposed just below the lowest point ot' the trough 15 to prevent overflow ot` the trough'.

Vhen the tank is to be filled, the cap 17 is placed upon the discharge 16 and the closure 21 removed and water poured into the chamber 12, which iovvs thence into the tank through the aperture 19, the elevated rim of the tank thus serving as a funnel to guide the water into the tank. When the tank is full, the closure 21 -is replaced and the cap 17 removed from the discharge 16, when the water will flow into the trough 15 until it rises above the discharge-aperture 16, when it will cease to llow. When the stock drinks from the trough and lowers the water-suppl y therein and exposes the aperture 16, the water begins immediately to l'low again 'from the tank and continues until the equilibrumis restored.

Under normal conditions devices thus constructed operate satisfactorily and with precision and require no attention so long as a head o'tf water remains in the tank; but when exposed to relatively high temperatures, as when the sun shines hotly upon the tank, the expansion produced thereby causes the water to frequently overflow the trough and results in much annoyance and loss. To compensate ior the abnormal expansion thus produced and automatically equalize the pressure and cause the device to operate equally well in all climates and under all thermal conditions, an equaliZing-pipe 25 is connected between the outer air in the receiving-chamber 12 and the interior compartment beneath the diaphragm 13, so that as the air and water are expanded within the upper 'compartment the increased pressure causes the water to rise in the vent-tube 25, and thus relieves the abnormal pressure and prevents the overiiow of the drinking-trough. As the tank cools the water assumes its normal level and the operation proceeds without change. By this simple device all danger of the overflow of the trough from increase of temperature is effectually and automatically obviated.

The device is simple in construction, can

be manufactured in any required size or capacity or adapted for any kind of stock, and operates veliciently under all the varying conditions oi weather encountered at different seasons and in diferent localities.

The drinking-trough 15 may be supported by a brace 26, if required.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. In a device of the class described, a closed reservoir having upper and lower compartments separated by a transverse partition having an aperture, a drinking-trough connected to said reservoir, a discharge from the lower of said compartments into said drinkingtrough and disposed below the upper'line of the same, and an equaliZing-pipe leading' from the lower of said compartments and terminating above the upper of said compartments.

2. In adevice of the class described, aclosed reservoir having its cover member spaced below the upper rim and provided with a central aperture communicating with the interior of the reservoir, an annular strengtheningplate connected to said cover member interiorly Aof the tank and surrounding said aperture, an arched frame connected to said cover member, a closure to said aperture` a screwrod 'carried by Said arched frame and bearing upon said closure, a transverse partition dividing the interior of-said reservoir into two compartments and having an aperture connecting the compartments, a drinkingtrough connected to said reservoir, adischarge from the lower of said compartments into said I drinking-trough and disposed below the upper line of the same, and an equalizing-pipe extending through said partition and through said cover member.

3. Inadevice of the class described, a closed reservoir lhaving the cover member spaced below the upper rim and provided with a centralaperture communicating with the interior of the same, a detachable closure to said aperture, a transverse partition dividing the interior of said reservoir into two compartments and having a compartment-connecting aperture, a drinking-trough connected to said reservoir, a discharge from the lower of said compartments into said drinking-trough and disposed below the upper line of the same, and an equalizing-pipe extending through said partition and through said cover member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto ailixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. THORNBURG.

Iitnesses:

C. G. NEWBY, HARRY E. KEYs. 

